Compartmentalized bowling ball bags and stands therefor

ABSTRACT

Compartmentalized bowling ball bags providing selective access to the individual compartments or access to the compartments collectively.

United States Patent Samuel N. Glantz;

Milton Glantz. 1127 W. Division St. Chicago, 111. 60622 Nov. 29, 1968 Jan. 12, 1971 Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented COMPARTMENTALIZED BOWLING BALL BAGS AND STANDS THEREFOR 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. A456 3/12, AC 11/00, A45C 13/02 Field of Search 150/52A;

190/51, 52; 206/l(curs0 y); 21 1/14; 248/163, 174, 346; 108/1, 25, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,537,598 5/1925 Goldman 248/346X 1,540,792 6/1925 McLaren..... 248/163X 2,244,912 6/1941 Ko1lander.... 248/I74X 2,754,870 7/1956 Glantz et a1.. l/52(A) 2,860,681 11/1958 LeGoff /52(A) 3,011,648 12/1961 Einhorn.... 150/52(A)X 3,281,883 11/1966 Glantz /51X Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Alter, Weiss & Whitesel ABSTRACT: compartmentalized bowling ball bags providing selective access to the individual compartments or access to I the compartments collectively.

IPATENTEUJANMIBYI v 31554-257 INVENTO'RS SAMUEL N. GLANTZ MILTON GLANTZ AT TO R N EYS COMPARTMENTALIZED BOWLING BALL BAGS AN STANDS THEREFOR cess to the compartments of the bags provided by the stands.

Compartmentalized bowling ball bags are known, such as, for example, provided by our US. lfat. No. 2,754,870 which issued Jul. 17, 1956. That patent taught the use of compartmentalized bowling ball bags wherein the bowling ball bag was divided into two separate compartments with an individual access opening for each of the compartments. Variations of that bag include bowling ball bags having one opening on the side to expose both compartments of the bag.

A key feature of compartmentalized bowling ball bags is the bowling ball stand used'therein. The stand actually is what divides the bag into the compartments. Further,-the top of the stand provides a platform for holding the bowling ball, and in addition, for holding gloves or other items as desired by the bowler. The'bottom compartment is used primarily for holding the shoes. I

Besides dividing the bag into compartments, the standsprovide a protective framework and support for the bag. Thus, it is extremely desirable that the stand provides walls so that the shoes in the lower compartment do not push against the walls to cause the bag to bulge and look unsightly. Thus, ideally, the stand provides walls to protect the bag from inner stresses as well as outer stresses. i

The manufacturers of the bowling ball bags are faced with a problem brought about by the variations in access openings in the bowling ball bags. For example, if the access opening of the bowling ball bag is provided on the side wall of the bag, then the bowling ball stand must be designed to enable access to the lower compartment when the side opening is used. In

addition, when an end opening in the bag is used for access to v the lower compartment, then the stand must have an opening at a confonning end. Therefore, itis necessary forthe manufacturer of the bowling ball bags to stock different types of stands. Onethat providesaccess to the lower compartment when the side opening bag is used and another type of stand to provide access to the. lower compartment when the side opening is used. a 1

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a universal stand that provides access to'the lower compartment when a side opening bagis used.

Accordingly'it is an object of thisinvention to provide a universal stand that provides access to the lower vcompartment when a side opening bag is used, and also provides access when an end opening is used for access to the lower compartment.

In addition, the universal stand that is an object of this invention must providewall supports'to protect the bag.

A related object of this invention is to provide improved type bowling ball bags that enable universal access to thecompartments created by the stand.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bowling ball bag that has access openings enabling individual access to each of the compartments or collective access-to all of the compartments. The preferred embodiment further includes a stand that provides access openings to the lower compartmentfor side or end openingibags.

The above-mentioned and other objects of this invention together with the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understoodby making reference to the following description of exemplary embodimentof the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. I shows a pictorialview of one embodiment of theuniversal bowlingball bag havinga top'opening for the topcompartment of the bowling ball bag and an end and/or side openings for access to the bottom compartment of the bag;

7 FIG. 1 is further provided with a zipper means 32 enabling- FIG. 2 is a pictorialview of another embodiment of the inv vention wherein access is obtained to the compartments of the a bag, either through side openings that can be selectively opened to expose both compartments or to expose only the bottom compartment; and

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the universal stand of the inventive improved bowling ball bag.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring now to the same, in FIG. 1 the character 10 indicates auniversal access type bowling ball bag. The bag is shown as comprising a flexible cover having sidewalls 11 and I2, and end walls 13 and 14.

As shown in phantom, in FIG. I the bagis provided with a stand 16. The stand compartmentalizes the bag by dividing it into two sections; a bottom section which as shown, can be utilized to hold shoes such as shown at 17in FIG. 1. The top portion of stand 16 is designed to hold the bowling ball shown in phantom at 18. The top surface or platform of the stand 22 can also support other accessories, such as gloves or the like. An end access opening 19 is provided by the stand, as well as a side access opening 21. These openings provide ready access to the shoes no matter howthe bag is opened to enable access to the lower compartment through the access opening of the stand.-

The bag of FIG. 1 is shown as having a flap 23 at the bottom portion of end section 13. The flap 23 enables access to the opening 19 of the stand, and thereby enables individual access to anything that is stored in the bottom compartment without having to disturb the top compartment by opening the bag to expose the top compartment.

The stand 16 is best seen'in FIG. 3. Therein, it is seen that the stand is a unitary structure having an inverted trough shape, that is the stand has an inverted U-shaped cross section comprising a platform section 22. Thus, the bottom compartment and access opening l9'is created by the inverted U- having walls integral therewith. The-stand may be shaped from metal such as aluminum or molded from plastic.

A ridge 26 may be provided at each end of the stand to further strengthen the stand. In addition, a bottom flange or lip 27 is provided at the bottom of each of the legs forming the U of the stand. The lip protects the bottom of the bag such as bottom 28 of bag 10. The bottom of the-bag is generally a reinforced flexible section. The lips also assure stability of the stand in the bag.

Returning to FIG. 1, it is seen that flap 23 is provided with a locking arrangement such as snap 29. The end 13 of the'bag has a snap receiving means 31. Other type locking arrangements, such as knob and holearrangement can be provided" whereby the flap 29' has an aperture therein and the end 13" has a knob thereon. When the flap is in its up position, the knob fits through the aperture,and then the" knob can be turned to lock the flap in its closed position. The bagrltl'fof openingthe top of the bag to provide access to the topcom partment of the bag.

It is within the scope of this invention to provide a bag such as that shown in FIG. 1 having an access openingon sidel6,

such as'would be provided by zipper33 shown schematically by the dashed line on side 16. The opening provided by'zippe'r Another embodiment of applicants invention emphasizing the universality of stand 16 is shown in FIG. 2. The bowling ball bag 41 of FIG. 2 comprises a pair of sidewalls 42 and 43. The sidewalls are separated by end pieces 44 and 46. The stand 16 is shown in place in the bag 41 with its access openings 19 and 21. A bowling ball 18 is shown resting on the stand in the top compartment of the bag. In addition, a glove 47 is shown resting in the top compartment on the stand and a shoe 48 of a pair of shoes is shown resting in the bottom compartment of the stand.

A side flap 49 which comprises almost a complete side section 42 is shown in its open position exposing the top compartment and the bottom compartment of the bag in enabling access to both compartments. The flap is shown as equipped with zippers shown schematically as 51 for closing and opening the flap. The zipper arrangement, of course, could commence at the top of platform 16 so that the flap could be opened to expose only the top compartment if that is desired or else two zipper sliders can be arranged to meet at the top section of zipper arrangement 51, whereby the flap 49 can be opened any desired amount such that, for example, only the top section is exposed by operating the two zipper sliders. In addition, the flap 49 comprises a subfiap section 52. The subflap section 52 is joined to the main flap section 49 by a zipper arrangement shown schematically by line 53. If the subflap section 52 is open by operating zipper 53, then only the bottom compartment is accessible. The bag 41 is also shown as having means for carrying it, such as a pair of handles 54, 56. This bag could, of course, be equipped with only a single handle mounted at its mid section. The handles may be attached in any well known manner.

In use, the stand 16 solves a serious problem now encountered by manufacturers in that it is universally useable in either side opening bags or end opening bags as has been shown and described herein. g

It is, of course, feasible to remove the stand and use it separately for holding or storing a bowling ball and using the bag for holding apparel or any other paraphernalia therein.

In use, the universal bag provides either accessibility to both compartments or selective accessibility to either compartments of the bowling ball bag, equipped with the inventive stand 16.

While the principles of the invention have been described in connection with specific apparatus and applications, it should be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An improved bowling ball bag: said bag having a bowling ball stand therein; said stand dividing said bag into compartments;

first bag entrance means for obtaining access to each of said compartments individually;

second bag entrance means for obtaining access to said compartments collectively; and

access openings in said stand aligned with said first and second bag entrance means to complete the access to one of the compartments through said entrances.

The improved bowling ball bag of claim 1 wherein:

said stand has an inverted U-shaped cross section with a platform portion;

wall-like legs descending downward from opposite sides of said platform portion; and

said legs resting on the inside bottom of said bag.

The improved bowling ball bag of claim 2 wherein said platform and said wall-like legs are integrally related.

The improved bowling ball bag of claim 3 wherein said access openings include a side aperture in at least one of said wall-like legs.

The improved bowling ball bag of claim 4 wherein: said first entrance means comprises an end flap opening aligned with the end of said stand to complete access to the said one compartment; and wherein said second entrance means comprises a side flap which opens to expose the platform portion of said stand and which opening is aligned with said side aperture. 6. The improved bowling ball bag of claim 4 wherein said first entrance means comprises a side subflap opening aligned with said side aperture, and wherein said second entrance means comprises a side flap which opens to expose the platform portion of said stand and said side aperture.

7. A universal bowling ball stand for use, in bowling ball bags having opening on either the sides, ends or top:

said stand having a one-piece inverted trough shape with an integrally formed platform section and wall-like leg sections descending downward from said platform section;

said bowling ball stand comprising depression means on said platform section for receiving said bowling ball, strengthening ridges located along said platform section parallel to the ends of said stand;

The ends of said stand being open; and

aperture means in at least one of said leg sections to enable access therethrough.

The bowling ball stand of claim 7 wherein said wall-like leg sections terminate in bottom flanges. 

1. eAn improved bowling ball bag: said bag having a bowling ball stand therein; said stand dividing said bag into compartments; first bag entrance means for obtAining access to each of said compartments individually; second bag entrance means for obtaining access to said compartments collectively; and access openings in said stand aligned with said first and second bag entrance means to complete the access to one of the compartments through said entrances.
 2. The improved bowling ball bag of claim 1 wherein: said stand has an inverted U-shaped cross section with a platform portion; wall-like legs descending downward from opposite sides of said platform portion; and said legs resting on the inside bottom of said bag.
 3. The improved bowling ball bag of claim 2 wherein said platform and said wall-like legs are integrally related.
 4. The improved bowling ball bag of claim 3 wherein said access openings include a side aperture in at least one of said wall-like legs.
 5. The improved bowling ball bag of claim 4 wherein: said first entrance means comprises an end flap opening aligned with the end of said stand to complete access to the said one compartment; and wherein said second entrance means comprises a side flap which opens to expose the platform portion of said stand and which opening is aligned with said side aperture.
 6. The improved bowling ball bag of claim 4 wherein said first entrance means comprises a side subflap opening aligned with said side aperture, and wherein said second entrance means comprises a side flap which opens to expose the platform portion of said stand and said side aperture.
 7. A universal bowling ball stand for use in bowling ball bags having opening on either the sides, ends or top: said stand having a one-piece inverted trough shape with an integrally formed platform section and wall-like leg sections descending downward from said platform section; said bowling ball stand comprising depression means on said platform section for receiving said bowling ball, strengthening ridges located along said platform section parallel to the ends of said stand; The ends of said stand being open; and aperture means in at least one of said leg sections to enable access therethrough.
 8. The bowling ball stand of claim 7 wherein said wall-like leg sections terminate in bottom flanges. 